The city council of Prague 3 has approved renaming Koněvova Street to Hartigova Street. The street will be renamed after the first mayor of the Žižkov district, Karel Hartig. The name change will take effect in October, and residents must update their documents accordingly. Although the administrative burden of changing records was a concern for some residents, the city council has promised to make the process as simple as possible.
The proposal to rename the street was recommended by the city commission and was approved by the city council last year. The decision was not unanimous, as many locals expressed concerns about the costs and inconvenience of updating their documents. However, the city council has emphasized that the name change is an essential step in recognizing the contributions of Karel Hartig to the development of the Žižkov district.
Karel Hartig was the first mayor of Žižkov and had previously served as the mayor of Královské Vinohrady. He was a prominent figure in the development of the district and played an essential role in the growth of the local community. The renaming of the street is a fitting tribute to his contributions.
The decision to rename the street has not been without controversy, as the road was previously named after Marshal Koněv, a Soviet military commander who played a role in the liberation of Prague in 1945. However, Koněv’s legacy is complicated, as he was also involved in suppressing the Hungarian uprising in 1956 and building the Berlin Wall.
The renaming of the street is part of a more significant effort to reevaluate the legacy of historical figures and to promote greater inclusivity and diversity in the city. The city council has emphasized that the decision to rename the street was not meant to diminish Marshal Koněv’s contributions but to recognize Karel Hartig’s contributions to the development of the Žižkov district.